Annecy

The “Venice of the Alps”: canals winding through town, the Palais de l'Isle and the turquoise Lake Annecy, with lakeside cycling, swimming and paragliding.

Annecy is the prefecture of the Haute-Savoie department in France, set on the northern shore of Lake Annecy at the foot of the Alps, about 40 km from Geneva. The old town is threaded by the Thiou river and several canals, and its colourful houses and flower-decked bridges have earned it the nickname “Venice of the Alps”; the lake's water is crystal clear and it is ringed by peaks of 1,500–2,300 m. Seasons: May–Sep is best. In Jul–Aug the lake is around 22–25°C, perfect for swimming, boating and paragliding, though this is also the busiest time; the International Animation Film Festival takes place in June, and the Fête du Lac in early August features a huge fireworks show (tickets required). In autumn the lakeside trees turn golden and crowds thin out; in winter there are Christmas markets, and the Aravis ski resorts are a 40-minute drive away. Areas to explore: ① Old town and lakefront — Palais de l'Isle, Château d'Annecy, the canals, Pont des Amours, Jardins de l'Europe and the Pâquier lawn, all walkable in half a day; ② Around the lake — on the east shore, Château de Menthon-Saint-Bernard, Talloires, Roc de Chère, the Angon waterfall and the Col de la Forclaz paragliding launch site; at the southern tip, the Bout du Lac nature reserve; on the west shore, the Duingt peninsula and the lakeside cycle path; ③ Surrounding mountains — hike Le Semnoz, Mont Veyrier or La Tournette for views of the lake and Mont Blanc; ④ To the west, the Gorges du Fier and Château de Montrottier; to the east, La Clusaz and Le Grand-Bornand around the Col des Aravis. Getting there: direct TGV from Paris Gare de Lyon in about 3 h 40 min; buses from Geneva Airport take about 1 hour. Explore the old town on foot; around the lake, cycle, take a cruise boat or ride the bus. Allow 2–3 days. Tips: lakeside parking is difficult on summer weekends, and much of the old town is pedestrianised; markets are held on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday mornings.

Top sights

• Annecy Old Town – A medieval old town threaded by the Thiou River and canals, with arcaded streets, pastel houses and flower-filled bridges. Open-air markets…
• Palais de l'Isle – A 12th-century stone building on a boat-shaped island in the Thiou River. It once served as a prison and courthouse and is Annecy's most ic…
• Lake Annecy – Often called one of Europe's cleanest lakes, with crystal-clear blue water. Activities include boat trips, swimming, stand-up paddleboardin…
• Pont des Amours – An iron bridge spanning the Thiou canal, with a tree-lined canal promenade lined with moored boats on one side, and a route to the lake and…
• Château d'Annecy – The Counts of Geneva's castle on the hill of the old town, now a museum. The walls offer views over the old town's red roofs and the lake.
• Jardins de l'Europe – A 19th-century botanical garden on the lakeshore, shaded by ancient trees from Europe, the Americas and Asia, including giant sequoias and…
• Le Pâquier – A large lakeside lawn facing the water and mountains, the place for picnics, sunbathing and watching the large fireworks over the lake duri…
• Plage d'Albigny – The largest free lakeside beach in the city, with broad lawns and tree shade, clear water for swimming, and views of the mountains.
• Annecy Cathedral (Saint-Pierre) – A 16th-century Renaissance-style cathedral in the old town, where Saint Francis de Sales once served as bishop.
• Basilica of the Visitation – A 20th-century basilica on the hillside south of the city, housing the relics of Saint Francis de Sales and Saint Jane Frances de Chantal…
• Château de Menthon-Saint-Bernard – A fairytale castle on a hill on the east shore of the lake, with many pointed towers rising from the forest. It is the birthplace of Saint…
• Talloires – A small village in a quiet bay on the east shore, with an ancient abbey, Michelin-starred restaurants and a lakeside beach. It is considere…
• Roc de Chère Nature Reserve – A forested limestone headland jutting into the lake between Talloires and Menthon, where forest trails lead to cliff viewpoints over the wa…
• Cascade d'Angon – A hidden waterfall in a gorge near Talloires, reached by a short trail through the woods. The trail can be extended to the Saint-Germain he…
• Col de la Forclaz – One of Europe's best-known paragliding take-off sites, at about 1,150 metres above sea level. It is the best lookout over the whole of Lake…
• Bout du Lac Nature Reserve – A reed-bed wetland reserve at the southern tip of the lake, with a birdwatching tower overlooking the marshes and the bay. It is a quiet st…
• Duingt – A medieval village on a peninsula in the narrowest part of the lake, with the Duingt castle on a small island in the lake and stone-paved l…
• Lake Annecy Greenway (Voie Verte) – A lakeside cycle path converted from an old railway along the west shore. It is flat and car-free, passing through lakeshore beaches and tu…
• Le Semnoz – A lakeside mountain ridge reachable by car, with 360-degree views from the Pointe de Châtillon at about 1,700 metres of Mont Blanc and Lake…
• Mont Veyrier – A peak right next to the city on the east side. Hiking along the ridge to Mont Baron and Mont Veyrier gives views of the old town and the e…
• La Tournette – The highest peak around Lake Annecy, at about 2,350 metres. From the summit you can see both the lake and Mont Blanc.
• Le Parmelan – A limestone plateau northeast of the town, with deeply eroded karst rock and a mountain hut on the cliff edge. The summit is about 1.5 hour…
• Gorges du Fier – A deep, narrow gorge carved by the Fier River through rock walls. A walkway clinging to the cliff hangs above the rushing water, and the li…
• Château de Montrottier – A castle above the Gorges du Fier, dating from the 13th and 14th centuries, with well-preserved towers and a collection of weapons and artw…
• La Clusaz – A traditional ski town in the Aravis mountains. It offers winter skiing, summer gondola hiking, and a village atmosphere of wooden chalets…
• Le Grand-Bornand – A mountain village known for Reblochon cheese, with a Wednesday farmers' market, farm visits and skiing. It offers a window into life in th…
• Col des Aravis – The 1,486-metre Col des Aravis, where meadows, a small chapel and the snowy summit of Mont Blanc come together in one view. It is a classic…

Where to eat

• Le Clos des Sens – A three-Michelin-starred restaurant on the heights of Annecy, showcasing local terroir through garden vegetables and la…
• Le Fréti – A cheese restaurant in the old town operating for over fifty years, with a cheese shop downstairs and a restaurant upst…
• Le Beignet Alpin – A family-run bistro on Rue Perrière by the canal, specializing in crispy-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside Savoyard po…
• Cozna – A small, modern French restaurant near Porte Sainte-Claire, listed in the Michelin Guide, featuring a short, seasonally…
• Brasserie Brunet – An English-style bistro near the station, featuring leather-aproned servers and a highly praised signature pâté en croû…
• Le Denti – A small, husband-and-wife-run fish restaurant away from the tourist crowds, offering a market-driven, seasonal menu at…

Itineraries

• Lyon, Annecy & Chamonix Rail & Bus Tour – Connect Lyon Old Town, Lake Annecy, and Mont Blanc without a car, departing from Geneva
• Geneva, Haute-Savoie Lakes & Mont Blanc Self-Drive Loop – Drive from the villages of Lake Geneva over the mountains to Mont Blanc, returning via the Col des Aravis to Annecy
• Vercors, Chartreuse & Savoie Lakes Tour – Drive from Grenoble into the Vercors balcony roads, then head north through Chartreuse to the lake district
• Route des Grandes Alpes: Lake Geneva to Nice – Cross high mountain passes like Iseran and Galibier from Lake Geneva, heading all the way south to the Mediterranean.